I suspect they’ll appreciate it. Just look them up on ArtPrize.org and leave a comment. It’s something I’m trying to do as I go through my photos and artist cards. I don’t know if the artists get notices that they have comments (hope they do!) – maybe they’ll never see them – but it’s at least nice to think about what you appreciate in the work and why you like it as you write the comment.

Downtown Courtyard by Marriott and the Eenhoorn Plaza Towers on the corner or Monroe and Fulton across from the BOB – go inside. There’s some really good pieces in these. Behind them, on the river is the Ferris Coffee cafe with some more lovely pieces like the one below.

The Human Condition by Canvas Voice at 25 Kitchen and Bar. I really liked this piece because of all the different mixed media canvases, many of which I found meaningful. My only complaint is that some of the canvases are so high I couldn’t read or really see them.

Kevin Kammeraad’s puppet show in front of the children’s museum – really is fun for all ages, and so is the other piece there.

The cube at Taylor and Leonard – go inside and interact with sound and lights reminiscent of Star Wars light sabers.

Rusty the dog at the Public Museum and the monkeys on the blue bridge of course! Very fun. Visiting the Public Museum for free is a must, too.

Cascade the CD waterfall in front of DeVos Place – play underneath it for the surprise.

Changes in the Hen House In Huntington/50 Monroe – ok, so this is the one made by the artist saying with me, but it’s fun. Most likely fun for little kids and adults – the kids will like the figures, the adults will “get it”. Great venue, too.

The BOB parking lot – some interactive pieces and generally family-fun/friendly pieces, not going to list them all but plenty there.

The dinosaur in front of the Van Andel arena – kids seem to like that one.

Noah’s Ark scene made from crayons at Cathedral Square – very colorful and fun.

So the rumor I’ve heard is there will be no more top ten repeats: after this year, artists in the top ten cannot return. I’ve also heard the rule is that artists in the top ten cannot return the year following that in which they made the top ten, but can after that. This is said to be the reason why the artist who did the monkeys on the blue bridge said not to vote for his, so he could return next year.

With 4/10 this year having been in the top ten in previous years – one in both! – this would let us see new artists up for prizes. I think this would be a really good change. However, it’s still nice to see these artists’ works, especially if they want to be here without even earning votes. I think it would be great to let them come back without voting IDs and have them show at venues away from the popular ones, in neighborhoods without as much ArtPrize traffic. This would draw people to outer venues while still allowing these artists to exhibit pieces but put new artists in the top ten.

As I think about it, the ArtPrize schedule doesn’t seem to be used as best as it could be. It begins on a Wednesday, and ends two and a half weeks later on Sunday. Three weekends are included, but the last weekend isn’t used for voting. It seems to me it would be better to start on a Friday and end on a Tuesday, with the winners’ announcement Monday. Run the first “week” of voting through the first two weekends, announce the top 10 – or top pool, preferably – on that second Monday with the second “week” of voting running less than a week.